11-020: Is There a Dentist in Town?

©By Gerry Clare, 1997It’s not hard to find a dentist today, but in January of 1929 when Bert Moffatt and Alex Salo were homesteading on Bear Creek, things were different. While hauling logs, their sled hit a stump and in the sudden stop Alex broke a front tooth right off, exposing the nerves. Before sunrise the next morning they were on their way to Rolla, a four-hour trip in the deep snow and cold, hoping to find a dentist there. By eleven o’clock they were having lunch in Rolla, but there was no dentist there. Mrs. Forbes suggested they try Pouce Coupe so off they went, only to discover that the dentist was actually in Dawson Creek, a much smaller town to the west. Since the two young men had never been to Dawson Creek before, they had to get directions, arriving in the old townsite where Canalta Park is today just as the sun was setting. They stayed overnight in Reasbeck’s Hotel and presented themselves at Dr. Campbell’s nearby house very early the next day.

The dentist’s office sported a foot-powered drill and a large pan, which served both as a place to sterilize the dental instruments and to wash the dishes. But Dr. Campbell obviously knew what he was doing, beating a small piece of gold into a very thin sheet and fashioning a gold cap for Alex’s tooth using a steel casting as a mould. “That will be ten dollars if you have it”, was the doctor’s only comment when the work was done. Alex didn’t have the money but Bert did, so the bill was paid and they headed home again with another dinner stop with Mrs Forbes in Rolla. Alex’s tooth never hurt again.